Hi guys,
Sorry it's been a while since my last post; I've been spending my time out and about trying to drum up some publicity for I want a word, as well as working on another project (which you'll hear more about in due course).
So, the publicity. Just over a week ago I wrote to a reporter at the BBC news website. Basically, she had posted a message saying that she was looking for stories and anyone with anything interesting to tell should get in touch. And it was good news - she seemed really keen on I want a word, interviewing me over the phone and asking me to send her my picture. All good. Then, a few days later she wrote back to inform me that the article was not going to be published - the reason being that I am asking people to pay for their words.
Now, I understand that the BBC is non-commercial and I can respect that. What's annoying is that this rule is applied inconsistently. There have been loads of articles about the new Harry Potter book on the BBC news website over the last few weeks. You can, for example, read one here. Or here. Or here. And it's not like those books are being given away for free!
Most annoying of all was when I found an article at the weekend about a project called MyFootballClub (you can read the article here). This is a community website where the organisers are looking for people to sign up and pay £35. All the money is then pooled and used to buy a football club, and all of the members who have signed up will be able to vote on the running of the club - everything from transfers to formations. Don't get me wrong, I think this is a fantastic idea and I am seriously considering taking part myself! What's annoying is that this scheme, which I don't think is so much different from my own, has been given space on the BBC website, with all the exposure that goes with it, while my own has effectively been barred. I am, to say the least, disappointed.
Still, the work goes on and I will most definitely live to fight another day! It's back to the drawing board for the moment, but I hope to come up with a few more ideas in the not-too-distant future.
Take care,
Chris
www.iwantaword.com
1 comment:
Hi, the guy behind the MyFootballClub idea used to work on the Match of the Day magazine, so crucially, he had links/contacts or whatever to get his idea onto the BBC website.
But the idea also got picked up by Sky Sports who did a feature on it, hence the snowballing effect.
I've signed up cos I think it's a great idea - there's already a thriving community on the members-only forum!
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